Ann Evans, Misfit Father

Misfit Father

Ann Evans

Harlequin SuperRomance, Feb 2006, $5.50

ISBN: 0373713312

Denver Daily Telegraph reporter Danielle Bridgeton wrote a series of articles exposing the greed of Humanity Haven. Her reward for strong reporting led to her publisher's mother-in-law demanding her exile across the I-70 corridor, Broken Yoke because she embarrassed the older woman who was seeing the Director of Humanity Haven.

At about the same time that the mother in law of the "Pope" excommunicated Dani, Rafe D'Angelo has come home to Broken Yoke to provide a stable home for his five year old daughter Frannie. Rafe knows he has his work cut out for him, as he only recently learned that his weekend tryst with Ellen led to a daughter; now Ellen demands Rafe take over raising their child. Besides needing to connect with his daughter, he also must make amends with his family, especially his father, after a dozen years away to help him provide loving stability to Fannie. However, as he struggles to connect, Rafe sees Dani, a woman he met when they worked, albeit her undercover, at the Native Sun Casino; he wanted her then and desires her even more now. However, he places Frannie first, while she places a story she investigates ahead of their relationship, as that should return her to Denver.

The fully developed key characters make for a fine contemporary family drama with a solid romantic subplot. Rafe is a wonderful character who feels inadequate with his daughter, but thankful to his family for their help, though he remains somewhat estranged from his dad. Dani is ambitious, but also finds herself in conflict with falling in love with the father and his accordion playing daughter, while wanting to return to the big city journalism. Fans will enjoy this fine relationship tale.